Melania Trump: #MeToo accusers need to have the evidence

MELANIA TRUMP has claimed she supports the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment — but criticised women for making allegations against men without ‘really hard evidence’.

The US first lady, whose husband Donald has faced a string of harassment and abuse claims, told ABC News she did ‘stand with women’ but added the media sometimes ‘goes too far’ in reporting allegations.

It came during Mrs Trump’s first major solo TV interview since her husband’s election triumph in 2016.

Colonial look: The helmet on display during the interview

The hour-long special, filmed during her recent trip to Africa where she was mocked for an outfit that included a colonial pith helmet, is due to be broadcast on Friday in the US.

When asked whether she supports the #MeToo campaign, which went viral last year, Mrs Trump, 48, said: ‘I support the women, and they need to be heard. We need to support them. And, you know, also men, not just women.

‘You need to have really hard evidence that, if you’re accused of something, show the evidence.’

Her comments come amid a storm of controversy in the US over Brett Kavanuagh’s appointment to the supreme court after he was accused of sexual assault by three women. But Mrs Trump said: ‘You cannot just say to somebody, “I was sexually assaulted or you did that to me,” because sometimes the media goes too far and the way they portray some stories it’s not correct, it’s not right.’

The president mocked Mr Kavanaugh’s accuser Dr Christine Ford last week and claimed men were under attack from false allegations. He said: ‘It’s a very scary time for young men in America when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of.’

The clip released by ABC News showed interviewer Tom Llamas asking Mrs Trump if allegations of her husband’s infidelity had put a ‘strain’ on their marriage. He also quizzed her about a jacket she wore in June which had ‘I Really Don’t Care — Do You?’ written on the back. Her answers are not included in the trailer.

The reporter also asks what has been the most surprising aspect of being the president’s wife.

She replies: ‘It’s sad to see organisations and foundations I want to partner with choose not to because of the administration. I feel they are choosing politics over helping others.’

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